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USC is recruting 'Baby Shaq' Aussies - New Pipeline
Posted on 5/27/16 at 2:44 pm
Posted on 5/27/16 at 2:44 pm
USC is recruiting two offensive linemen from Melbourne, Australia, including one who is 6-foot-10.
The Trojans are looking at 16-year-old Daniel ‘Baby Shaq’ Faalele, who is 6-10 and 17-year-old Eneasi Kavapalu (6-7).
But USC is hardly alone as Penn State and Michigan are among the schools also recruiting the pair.
While Australia has a successful history past and present of punting exports at the collegiate and professional level — such as Jordan Berry (Steelers), Tom Hackett (Jets), Cameron Johnston (Ohio State) and Daniel Pasquariello (Penn State) who all trained with Conquest while in the Prokick Australia program — this represents a new chapter for the Australian pipeline to American football.
“This thing’s ready to explode down here. I think it’s kind of exploding already. Jarryd Hayne’s been exploding it and there’s a crop of young talent coming up that’s pretty impressive”, says University of Hawaii offensive line coach Chris Naeole, a former top-10 draft pick and 12-year veteran in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Move over Hawaii and American-Somoa...Australia the new pipeline for huge talent.
The Trojans are looking at 16-year-old Daniel ‘Baby Shaq’ Faalele, who is 6-10 and 17-year-old Eneasi Kavapalu (6-7).
But USC is hardly alone as Penn State and Michigan are among the schools also recruiting the pair.
While Australia has a successful history past and present of punting exports at the collegiate and professional level — such as Jordan Berry (Steelers), Tom Hackett (Jets), Cameron Johnston (Ohio State) and Daniel Pasquariello (Penn State) who all trained with Conquest while in the Prokick Australia program — this represents a new chapter for the Australian pipeline to American football.
“This thing’s ready to explode down here. I think it’s kind of exploding already. Jarryd Hayne’s been exploding it and there’s a crop of young talent coming up that’s pretty impressive”, says University of Hawaii offensive line coach Chris Naeole, a former top-10 draft pick and 12-year veteran in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Move over Hawaii and American-Somoa...Australia the new pipeline for huge talent.
1
Posted on 5/27/16 at 3:33 pm to mizzoubuckeyeiowa
I really do hope they succeed (being an Aussie), but I just can't see it happening. Unless they go over to the US at about 15 and play high school football first and get some sort of experience and good level of coaching. No matter how much potential they might have, it's gonna take years for them to develop and catch up to the rest if you throw them straight into top colleges.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 4:02 pm to Aussietigerfan
That would help, but there are plenty of guys who came from abroad having never played football before that turned into studs. Raw athletic ability can be refined very quickly in some cases.
Ziggy Ansah went from never playing football nor understanding the rules to a top five pick in three years and is one of the best defensive players in the NFL today.
Ziggy Ansah went from never playing football nor understanding the rules to a top five pick in three years and is one of the best defensive players in the NFL today.
Posted on 5/27/16 at 4:41 pm to TheWalrus
Ok that's promising to hear! I guess it won't hurt to have 1 scholarship used on an overseas prospect anyway. Well hopefully ot does become a regular thing because I would love to support some more Aussies over there. Especially ones they aren't just kicking the ball 
Posted on 5/27/16 at 7:47 pm to Aussietigerfan
quote:
Unless they go over to the US at about 15 and play high school football first and get some sort of experience and good level of coaching.
Yeah Tom Wort (Oklahoma University) was 14 when his family moved from England and he said he would never have achieved what he did without playing American high school football in Texas.
It's just not the same picking it up overseas and playing sporadically for clubs.
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